Exhaust air deflecting system

ABSTRACT

An air deflecting system includes an air deflector that is physically mounted against a hot air exhaust vent of a network equipment element using a rack coupling mechanism that is adjustable to accommodate a variable lateral distance of the hot air exhaust vent from the computing rack. The air deflector receives an airflow from the hot air exhaust vent at a first direction and deflects the airflow in a second direction.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from U.S.provisional application No. 61/733,851 entitled “AIR DEFLECTOR,” filedon Dec. 5, 2012, the entire contents of which are fully incorporated byreference herein for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure generally relates to network equipment elements, and moreparticularly, to an exhaust air deflecting system.

BACKGROUND

Conventional computer equipment and, in particular networking equipment,employ air deflectors to direct and/or deflect the generated orexhausted warm air away from the equipment (e.g., in an upwardsdirection due to the natural flow of heated air). Some equipmentmanufacturers offer air deflectors that are specific to a certain modelof equipment (i.e., specific to the dimensions of the equipment and/orplacement of the exhaust system) and are fastened to the equipmentitself. However, not all equipment manufacturers offer an air deflectorassociated with their products. Generally, when air deflectors are notincluded with equipment, generic air deflectors (e.g., curved plastic)may be used that attach to the equipment via a magnetic coupler and/ormechanism. Such a magnetic coupler can add an undesirable magnetic fieldnear the equipment to which it is attached. Additionally, the magneticcoupler not have sufficient magnetism to keep the air deflector attachedto the equipment while enduring the force of the air exhaust.Additionally, since many data center aisles are rather narrow,magnetically coupled air deflectors jutting into the aisle are easy todislodge if bumped.

It is with these issues in mind, among others, that various aspects ofthe present disclosure were conceived.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect, an air deflecting system includes an airdeflector that is physically mounted against an hot air exhaust vent ofa network equipment element using a rack coupling mechanism that isadjustable to accommodate a variable lateral distance of the hot airexhaust vent from the computing rack. The air deflector receives anairflow from the hot air exhaust vent at a first direction and deflectsthe airflow in a second direction.

According to another aspect, a computing system includes a plurality ofnetwork equipment elements, a computing rack to house the networkequipment elements, and an exhaust air deflector. The exhaust airdeflector is physically mounted against an hot air exhaust vent of oneof the network equipment elements using a rack coupling mechanism thatis adjustable to accommodate a variable lateral distance of the hot airexhaust vent from the computing rack. The air deflector receives anairflow from the hot air exhaust vent at a first direction and deflectsthe airflow in a second direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of thedisclosure will be apparent from the following description of particularembodiments of the disclosure, as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which like reference characters refer to the same partsthroughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily toscale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an example exhaust air deflectorconfigured on a network equipment element of a computing rack accordingto the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2 and 3 depict first and second sheets of metal that are used toconstruct the exhaust air deflector according to the teachings of thepresent disclosure.

FIGS. 4 through 6 depict front, side, and top views, respectively, ofthe exhaust air deflector according to the teachings of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 7A and 7B depict side and top views, respectively, of the exampleexhaust air deflector mounted on a network equipment element of acomputing rack according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure involve an air deflector that directsexhaust air up and away from computing equipment. Embodiments hereininclude an exhaust air deflector for computer and/or networkingequipment that is mounted to a computing rack in which the computerand/or networking equipment resides (rather than attaching to theequipment itself). Such exhaust air deflectors can endure the force ofthe air exhaust and have sufficient durability for long term usage. Theexhaust air deflector may be universal such that it may be used forvarying computer and/or networking equipment models, sizes, dimensions,etc. Furthermore, such exhaust air deflectors do not have a magneticcoupler and/or mechanism that would cause undesirable magnetic fieldsnear the computer and/or networking equipment, among other advantages.

FIG. 1 depicts an example exhaust air deflecting system 100 according tothe teachings of the present disclosure. The exhaust air deflectorsystem 100 generally includes a computing rack 102 in which one or morenetwork equipment elements 104 may be mounted. The exhaust air deflectorsystem 100 also includes an exhaust air deflector 106 that may bemounted adjacent to hot air exhaust vents 108 of one of the networkequipment elements 104 using an adjustable rack coupling mechanism 110.As will be described in detail below, the rack coupling mechanism 110 isadjustable to adapt to varying depths/dimensions of different networkingequipment in relation to the positioning of the networking equipmentwithin the rack.

The network equipment element 104 may be any type that is mountableand/or supported in a computing rack 102. Examples of such equipmentinclude computing devices, blade servers, routers, switches, powersupply units, and the like. In a particular example, the networkequipment element 104 is a CIENA™, model 5410 core switch. The computingrack 102, network equipment elements 104, and exhaust air deflector 106collectively form a computing system, such as a data center, computercluster, or communication switch that provides one or more usefulfunctions.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 6, various components of the exhaustair deflector 106 will be described. The exhaust air deflector 106generally includes a first sheet of metal 114 cut to a shape as shown inFIG. 2, and a second sheet of metal 116 cut to a shape as shown in FIG.3. The metal sheets as shown are made of carbon steel having a thicknessof approximately 0.10 inches, but any type of material having anysuitable thickness may be used. For example, exhaust air deflector 106may be formed from plastic material that is injection molded into itsfinal shape, and sufficiently heat tolerant to work with conventionalexhaust air temperatures.

The first sheet of metal 114 includes a vane 118, having two sidewalls119 and two flanges 120 integrally formed on both ends. When bent toshape along bend lines 121 formed by the interface between the vane 116,angled members 118, and bend lines 123 formed by the interface betweenthe sidewalls 119 and the flanges 120, the angled members 118 cause thevane 116 to be oriented at an angle relative to the two flanges 120.Thus, when the flanges 120 are oriented vertically against the hot airexhaust vent 108 of the network equipment element 104, the vane 118 willbe oriented at an ascending angle to divert an airflow emanating fromthe hot air exhaust vent 108 to a direction upwards from the horizontaldirection.

The second sheet of metal 116 includes another vane 122 having twoflange members 124 on either end. Bend lines 125 formed by an interfacebetween the flange members 124 and the vane 122. When bent to shapealong bend lines 125, the second sheet of metal 116 may be secured tothe first sheet of metal 114 using bolts, rivets, or other attachmentmechanisms inserted through holes 126 in the second sheet of metal 116and holes 128 formed in the first sheet of metal 114. In this manner,two vanes 118 and 122 may be provided for upwardly deflecting a warm airexhaust airflow from a network equipment element 104. Although theparticular embodiment describes the use of two vanes for deflecting anairflow, other numbers of vanes may be used, such as only one vane orthree or more vanes. Additionally, although the present embodimentdescribes vanes configured to deflect an exhaust airflow that isexhausted in a substantially horizontal direction to an upwarddirection, it is contemplated that other embodiments may be configuredto deflect an airflow having any initial direction to another directionthat is different from the initial direction. For example, the exhaustairflow deflector 106 may be configured to deflect a horizontal airflowto a downward direction.

As introduced, the exhaust air deflector 106 may provide an advantagewhen used with network equipment elements that exhaust an airflow in asubstantially horizontal direction. It is often the case that datacenters are arranged with alternating cold air aisles and warm airaisles. In such an arrangement, cool air flows through air vents in thefloor into the cool air aisle. Computing equipment and the associatedracks are arranged so that that the sides of the equipment that intakecool air are facing the cool air aisle, and the warm air exhausts areall facing the warm air aisles. Furthermore, many data centers arearranged such that cool air is introduced through the floor, and warmair flows to cooling units by being exhausted into the warm air aislesand rising above the computing equipment and being drawn into a coolingunit's intake that is positioned on the top of the unit. Some networkequipment elements generate exhaust airflows that are discharged in asubstantially horizontal direction. Such an arrangement can cause warmair to discharge into equipment across aisle, may hamper or disrupt thecooling pattern for other computing racks positioned nearby, and isrelatively inefficient in moving air upward into the flow to the coolingunit. The exhaust air deflector system 100 according to the teachings ofthe present disclosure provides a solution to these problems, andothers, by deflecting the exhaust airflow from a network equipmentelement in an upward direction such that the airflow pattern of nearbycomputing racks is not unduly hampered or disrupted, and moves the airup into the warm air return flow as efficiently as possible

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 illustrate the exhaust air deflector 106 after thefirst sheet of metal 114 and the second sheet of metal 116 are bent toshape, and attached to one another. The exhaust air deflector 106 mayhave any size reasonably contemplated to span some or all of a networkelement and bridge between rack structures to which the deflector isattached. In one aspect, the exhaust air deflector 106 has a width Wdsuch that holes 146 configured in the flanges 120 have a similardistance to that of a conventional computing rack, such as a 19 inchcomputing rack or a 23 inch computing rack. More specifically, thedistance Wd can be approximately the same as the width between opposingside rails of a computer rack, where a network element or other form ofcomputing equipment fits between the side rails. Additionally, theexhaust air deflector 106 as shown has a height Hd of approximately 6.0inches and a depth Dd of approximately 4.0 inches; nevertheless, anysuitable dimensions may be used that deflects the airflow at a desiredlevel.

When each of the first and second sheet of metal 114 and 116 are bent toshape and attached to one another, a multi-vane air deflector is formedfor diverting an airflow from a hot air exhaust vent of a networkequipment element configured in a computing rack. The vanes 188 are 122are parallel to one another and are oriented at approximately a 45degree angle relative to the flanges 120, although any suitable angularorientation may be used that causes the airflow to be diverted in adesired direction. Multiple vanes may provide an advantage in that amore laminar diversion of air flow may be obtained than would otherwisebe provided by a single vane design that could potentially causeturbulent airflow that may, in turn, cause undue backpressure to the hotair exhaust vent and/or stagnant exhaust air proximate the networkequipment element.

FIGS. 7A and 7B depict a side view and top view, respectively, of acomputing rack 102 having a network equipment element 104 on which theexample exhaust air deflector 106 is mounted according to the teachingsof the present disclosure. As shown in this particular embodiment, therack coupling mechanism comprises two pair of bolts 130 onto which nuts132 may be screwed for securing the exhaust air deflector 106 to thenetwork equipment element 104.

The bolts 130, as shown, each comprise an elongated section of metal rodthat is threaded along its entire extent. Rods such as these are oftenreferred to as ‘all-thread’. Nevertheless other embodiments contemplatethat that bolts 130 may have threaded sections that extend only along aportion of their extent. The threaded sections of the bolts allow thenuts 132 to be selectively screwed toward, or away from the rack 102such that the exhaust air deflector 106 may be mounted against a networkequipment element 104, which may project any lateral distance DI fromthe computing rack 102. Stated differently, the elongate threaded boltallows the air deflector to be mounted against the exhaust air side of apiece of computing equipment when the degree to which the equipmentextends away from the side rails may vary relative to other equipment.Although the particular embodiment shown uses threaded bolts, otherembodiments may include any type of structure that provides a tensionforce between the exhaust air deflector 106 and the rack 102 at varyinglateral distances DI that may be encountered by the exhaust airdeflector 106 configured in the rack 102. For example, an exhaust airdeflector 106 may include on or more spacers that may selectively addedto, or removed to provide a desired lateral distance for mounting theexhaust air deflector 106 to the network equipment element 104. Asanother example, the exhaust air deflector 106 may include one or moretension springs that physically couple the rack 102 to the exhaust airdeflector 106 in a manner that exerts a tension force upon the exhaustair deflector 106 for maintaining the exhaust air deflector 106 adjacentto the network equipment element 104.

Referring to FIG. 7B, the rack 102 as shown includes two elongatedsections of U-shaped rails 140 having flange portions 142 configuredwith multiple holes along their extent for attachment of multiplenetwork equipment elements 104 on top of one another in the rack 102.Nevertheless, it should be understood that the teachings of the presentdisclosure may be applied to any type of computing rack, such as acomputing rack having four elongated rail sections in which two of therails are disposed on a first side (e.g., left side) of the networkequipment, and the other two rails are disposed on the other side (e.g.,right side) of the network equipment. In either case, the bolts 130 mayeach be secured to the rack 102 by inserting the bolts into these one ofthese holes and secured using nuts 134 screwed onto the bolts 130.

Nevertheless, certain scenarios may arise in which the holes configuredin the rails are not in locations that are optimally suitable formounting the exhaust air deflector 106 precisely over the hot airexhaust vent of the network equipment element 104. Accordingly, theflange 120 of the exhaust air deflector 106 is provided with a number ofequally-spaced holes 146 (FIG. 2) into which the bolts may be insertedto provide a desired elevational height He of the exhaust air deflector106 relative to that of the network equipment element 104 when mountedin the rack 102.

To use, it may ascertained that a network equipment element 104configured in a computing rack 102 with one or more other networkequipment elements emits a horizontal airflow that could be improved ifthe airflow were deflected in an upward direction. The network equipmentelement 104 has an air outlet 108 configured at any distance from therails 140 of the computing rack 102. The user may then select one ormore unused holes along the extent of the flange portions 142 of therack 102 and insert the threaded bolts through these holes and applynuts 134 to the back side of the rails 140. Next, the user may selectcertain holes 146 in the flange 120 of the exhaust air deflector 106 forinsertion of the threaded bolts 130 such that the exhaust air deflector106 is properly elevationally aligned with the air outlet 108 of thenetwork equipment element 104. Once inserted nuts 132 may be screwedonto the bolts 130 and tightened to ensure that the exhaust airdeflector 106 remains in proper position against the air outlet 108 ofthe network equipment element 104.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference tovarious embodiments, it will be understood that the disclosure is notlimited to the details thereof. Various modifications and substitutionswill occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. All such substitutionsare intended to be embraced within the scope of the disclosure asdefined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: an air deflector to receive an airflow at a first direction and deflect the airflow in a second direction, the airflow discharged through an hot air exhaust vent of a network equipment element configured in a computing rack, wherein the air deflector is separate from the computing rack; and a rack coupling mechanism to physically locate the air deflector against the hot air exhaust vent of the network equipment element, and connect the air deflector to the computing rack, the rack coupling mechanism is adjustable to accommodate a variable lateral distance of the hot air exhaust vent from the computing rack, wherein the rack coupling mechanism comprises a pair of elongated bolts that physically mounts the air deflector against the hot air exhaust vent of the network equipment element using a pair of flanges each configured on opposing sides of the air deflector, wherein each flange comprises a plurality of equally-spaced holes into which one of a pair of elongated bolts are alternatively inserted according to a desired height of the air deflector relative to the height of the hot air exhaust vent, wherein the air deflector comprises a first vane, each of the pair of flanges physically coupled to the first vane at either end using each of a pair of sidewalls, the first vane oriented at a specified angle relative to an orientation of each of the flanges, and wherein the air deflector comprises a second vane having a pair of second flanges on either end, each second flange physically coupled to each of the pair of sidewalls such that the orientation of the second vane is parallel to the first vane.
 2. The air deflector of claim 1, wherein the specified angle is 45 degrees.
 3. The air deflector of claim 1, wherein the computing rack comprises a pair of opposing vertically oriented U-shaped rails configured with multiple holes, the network element positioned between the rails and the holes of the rails being spaced relative to a height of the network element, a first bolt of the pair of bolts secured in one of the holes of a first rail of the pair of rails and a second bolt of the pair of bolts secured in one of the holes of a second rail of the pair of rails, each of the first bolt and the second bolt secured in one of a plurality of spaced apart holes of each of a pair of flanges configured on opposing sides of the air deflector such that the air deflector is positioned at a height sufficient to cover the hot air exhaust vent.
 4. The air deflector of claim 1, wherein the air deflector is formed from a first planar sheet of metal that, when bent to its final shape, forms at least one vane of the air deflector.
 5. The air deflector of claim 3, wherein the air deflector comprises a second vane formed from a second planar sheet of metal.
 6. The air deflector of claim 1, wherein the first direction is a horizontal direction and the second direction is upwards of the horizontal direction.
 7. A computing system comprising: a plurality of network equipment elements; a computing rack housing the network equipment elements; and an exhaust air deflector to receive an airflow from at least one network equipment element at a first direction and deflect the airflow in a second direction, the exhaust air deflector is physically located against the hot air exhaust vent of the one network equipment element using a rack coupling mechanism that connects the exhaust air flow deflector to the computing rack, and the exhaust air deflector is separate from the computing rack and the rack coupling mechanism is adjustable to accommodate a variable lateral distance of the hot air exhaust vent from the computing rack, wherein the rack coupling mechanism comprises a pair of elongated bolts that physically mounts the air deflector against the hot air exhaust vent of the network equipment element using a pair of flanges each configured on opposing sides of the air deflector, wherein the air deflector comprises a first vane, each of the pair of flanges physically coupled to the first vane at either end using each of a pair of sidewalls, the first vane oriented at a specified angle relative to an orientation of each of the flanges, and wherein the air deflector comprises a second vane having a pair of second flanges on either end, each second flange physically coupled to each of the pair of sidewalls such that the orientation of the second vane is parallel to the first vane.
 8. The computing system of claim 7, wherein each flange comprises a plurality of equally-spaced holes into which one of the bolts are alternatively inserted according to a desired height of the air deflector relative to the height of the hot air exhaust vent.
 9. The computing system of claim 7, wherein the computing rack comprises a pair of opposing vertically oriented U-shaped rails configured with multiple holes, the network element positioned between the rails and the holes of the rails being spaced relative to a height of the network element, a first bolt of the pair of bolts secured in one of the holes of a first rail of the pair of rails and a second bolt of the pair of bolts secured in one of the holes of a second rail of the pair of rails, each of the first bolt and the second bolt secured in one of a plurality of spaced apart holes of each of a pair of flanges configured on opposing sides of the air deflector such that the air deflector is positioned at a height sufficient to cover the hot air exhaust vent.
 10. The computing system of claim 7, wherein the air deflector is formed from a first planar sheet of metal that, when bent to its final shape, forms at least one vane of the air deflector.
 11. The computing system of claim 10, wherein the air deflector comprises a second vane formed from a second planar sheet of metal.
 12. The computing system of claim 7, wherein the first direction is a horizontal direction and the second direction is upwards of the horizontal direction. 